Newspaper Coverage of Energy Issues

Frequency matrix analysis of reporting of energy topics in the West Australian February – June 1980 reveals profiles of the energy issues presented to the community and of the ‘energy stance’ of different social groups — their reported concerns and objectives in energy matters. The continuing coverage of nuclear energy contrasts sharply with the limited coverage of energy conservation. Similarly, energy policies of state and federal governments receive considerably more extensive reporting than do those of the Opposition parties.